Spireites send Dale down

Chesterfield staged a late fightback to keep their survival hopes alive with a 2-1 win that sends Rochdale down to League Two.

Last Updated: 21/04/12 6:18pm

Chesterfield staged a late fightback to keep their survival hopes alive with a 2-1 win that sends Rochdale down to League Two.

The visitors took a 73rd-minute lead through Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, but Scott Boden equalised with 10 minutes left and Danny Whitaker completed the comeback five minutes later.

It means Rochdale are down and Chesterfield will join them unless they win their last two games and other results go their way - but a third straight victory means they are still in there fighting.

Rochdale were the better side for much of the match and deservedly went in front when Akpa-Akpro ran at the defence and bent a right-footed shot past Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee from the edge of the area.

Lee kept his team in it with a great save from Nicky Adams and that proved crucial because Boden levelled in the 80th minute when Jordan Bowery headed a cross down into his path.

Dale's fate was sealed when Franck Moussa rattled the crossbar from 20 yards and Whitaker pounced on the rebound to keep Chesterfield in League One for another week.